Honor for those risking their lives
To the Times:
Rarely if ever do families have within them what society, past or present, would consider to be bonafide heroes. Many lay claim to sons and daughters who may have given their lives or who were gravely injured in defense of our nation by serving in the armed forces.
Police and fire personnel often reach heroic heights keeping us safe in the critical times that we all face.
Now, thank God, we have our medical professionals, doctors on down to candy stripers who are on the front lines doing battle with a crisis of Biblical proportions.
I am witnessing a respected loved one, an emergency room specialist, doing her committed and pledged duty, despite the fact that she is a mother of two active young children and a wife who runs a beautiful family. She would have my scalp if she knew that I was signaling her out because her innate humility and humbleness would preclude any attention she would ever bring to herself in social gatherings by mentioning her vaunted medical status.
My neighbors and acquaintances often ask me what she does for a living. I never mention it unless asked.
My wife and I are planning right now in the depth of this modern-day catastrophe an-old-world “shindig” to honor her for risking her life to save the lives of others, especially old fogies like me.
I am sure that my grandson, her nephew, recently chose to attend her alma mater, Jefferson Medical School, out of the acceptances he received, based on the respect he has for his aunt, the E.R. doctor. I am following the free medical advice she took the time to write down for me as one whom this granddaddy of all viruses would love to claim – the pre-conditions kid.
Sam Alfonsi, Marple
Giving respect
To the Times:
We have the lowest-paid people in our country working in “essential services.” We need them, and they are risking their well-being to serve us. It would only be fair for our tax dollars to be spent giving them hazard pay. This should go into the next stimulus bill.
It may help raise the quality of services if people can afford to calm some of the chaos of their lives and invest more healthfully in their work, even after the coronavirus is gone. It may also cause us as a society to give them the respect they deserve as human beings.
Cheryl Sparks, Berwyn